Viola Lavera (Wendel) Gillingham, 93, died Aug. 1, 2026, at Sage Bluff Health & Rehab Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
She was born Oct. 30, 1932, in Huntington County, Indiana, to Glenn E. and Clara B. (Schenkel) Wendel, who preceded her in death.
Lavera, as she was known to friends, was a spitfire who chose to live as a redhead most of her life. She was a social butterfly who played volleyball in high school and was on a bowling team as an adult. She graduated from Huntington High School in 1951 and worked for Public Service Indiana (now Duke Energy) until retirement.
As an Avon cosmetics representative, Lavera delighted her nieces with jewelry and samples of lipstick and perfume for years. On holidays, she whipped up new desserts for family gatherings. She was always excited about trying something new but continued to enjoy a piece of traditional pumpkin pie into her 90s.
Lavera lived as an adult in Wabash; Indianapolis; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Clearwater, Florida; before spending her final years in Fort Wayne. She enjoyed playing bingo, watching "Dancing with the Stars," listening to country music, singing hymns and making friends at the facilities where she lived after a fall in 2020.
Lavera, known as Vera by other friends, is survived by her sister, Dorothy "Dottie" (Kenneth) McCurley, Fort Wayne; her nieces Sherry Slater (Dan Rooney), Fort Wayne; Kathy (Ed) Salzmann, Fort Wayne; Barbara (Jerry) Hubert, Fort Wayne; and Suzanne (Vincent) Woodford, Mishawaka; and great-nieces Emily Salzmann and Megan Salzmann. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Marian Wendel and Candy Wendel.
Lavera was widowed by her second husband, Ray Gillingham, and longtime companion, Michael Bedwell. She also was preceded in death by her brothers, Glenn Wendel Jr. and Paul Wendel, and nephews Gary McCurley and Jim Wendel.
Private Family Services will be held.